First launched 12 years ago, the Master in Yacht Design provides the international boat market with qualified professionals capable of leading the design and production process of any modern sailing boat or motor yacht.

During this edition particular attention was given to the labs hands-on activities, which led to the development of 15 projects as well as to the construction of a sailing boat equipped with hydrofoils.

Thanks to the support of specific contributions, including seminars, focused visits, instrumental labs and meetings with industry professionals, two Design Workshops developed a number of solutions based on two distinct briefs: a 50-feet sailing boat and a 80-feet motor yacht.

Sailing Boat Projects

In the sailing boat workshop ample space was given to the conceptual development, with a small number of creative constraints and an emphasis on the exploration of innovative design solutions in support of sustainability.

Starting from the individual design briefs, each participant developed the main volumes and waterlines, the interior space organization, the upper deck layout, taking also design decisions concerning the onboard systems, the sailing rig, the construction and finishing materials.

Motoryacht Projects

For the motoryacht workshop the teaching staff chose to give more space to the detailed development of solutions focused on feasibility, in order to achieve a production-ready design definition level.

This led to the identification and development of three distinct projects, each based on a different theme: “Exclusive Sustainability” for the Eos 80′ team; “Elegant Uniqueness” for the Isurus team; and “Sensorial Technology” for the Sea Six team.

Internships

The final internship experience, which is currently taking place at shipbuilders and professional design studios, will allow students to further advance the design knowledge and experience gained from the Master Course, in view of the final exam discussion, scheduled for this April.

Hydrofoil sailing boat concept

Another achievement of this year’s Master edition was the design development and construction of a sailing boat with hydrodynamic foils, conceived for a two-member crew.

This project also drew from the five-years experience gained from the experimentation with composites for nautical applications.

This allowed to build the hull using sandwich-structured composites made of linen, cork core and vacuum impregnation epoxy resins.

The hydrofoils located on the craft lift the hull up and out of the water, thus drastically reducing water resistance and increasing the boat speed.

The project was finalized with the adoption of a wing sail with variable profile, capable of generating a high efficiency asymmetrical profile, which at wind speeds of only 8 knots allowed the boat to sail twice as fast.

12 Years of the Master in Yacht Design

Twelve years of history represent an important mark, not only from an educational perspective, but also when looking at the shipbuilding industry, which over this period of time has employed many professionals coming out from this school, leveraging their competences and contributions in term of culture and design innovation.

The figures of this anniversary are particularly remarkable: as of today about 300 professionals have been trained, with over 5,000 hours of lectures, 1,500 hours of design workshops and 3,500 hours of internships at local shipyards, design firms and other companies working in the industry.

Furthermore, over the course of the past years the School has established a dense network of collaborations and exchanges with manufacturers associations and other institutions active in the recreational boating industry.

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